A Baby Boomer Dreams of Arabian Horses - The Maiden Season

Part 1 of the Baby Boomer Series

I wasn't really looking forward to breeding season although I was looking forward to the foals the following year. Just the thought of teaching a maiden stallion how to breed was enough to make me nervous. As springtime approached I found myself with lots of reasons to put off even thinking about breeding.

Sometime in April I finally contacted the breeder in Oregon about making arrangements to lease the Dare Malik daughter for the breeding season and the following year for foaling. I also made arrangements to have that mare transported to my farm.

During that same time frame, I got a call from my friend, Jodee. Her Gamaar bred mare, Kurra, was looking like she was beginning to come into heat and Jodee would bring her up on the weekend. While I was excited at the prospect of breeding this mare, in no way was I looking forward to the process.

I had already made arrangements with the vet and his wife (who has a masters degree in equine reproduction) to come and help us with the first couple of covers. I had never even seen a maiden stallion breed nor had I handled any stallion for in hand breeding. My job had always been the mares. I was not looking forward to this new role

Lady of Chaos in yesterday's comments
made a reference about confidence and breeding with her inexperienced stallion this year. Let me say right here at the start, I was never worried about Legs's confidence. The horse was mounting mares before he was weaned. I knew he would not be intimidated by a mare in heat. I was far more worried about the colt's enthusiasm. I expected him to be quite literally rearing to go. Controlling him was my biggest nightmare.

I knew how the first few covers for a maiden stallion are handled, will affect them for life. Allowing a young stallion to be pushy and aggressive can make for a lifetime of dangerous breeding. While the way the young horse is corrected for transgressions (because there will be transgressions!) can halt a young stallion's breeding career in its tracks.

I knew from the start that it was going to be really important for me to control the young horse's behavior without injuring his confidence. Even the most confident young colt can have his confidence squashed by an overly aggressive handler. Yet, I had no previous history or training to rely on. I had no idea what to expect. I was really feeling like a duck out of water as we embarked on this new chapter in our breeding careers.

Saturday came and so did the mare.... and the vet... and his wife. We got the mare washed. The stallion washed. Those things I knew how to do. It was a piece of cake. We teased the mare with Legs in his stall where he could reach over the top of the wall. When he dropped, I washed. Piece of cake, except when he tried to kick at my hand. But that was easy enough to handle too.

Once both horses were all cleaned up, the mare's tail wrapped it was time to do the deed. I was feeling sick to my stomach. Even though I knew I had to do this, I really didn't want to. The noise in my head was deafening as my inner voices expressed every form of fear you can imagine, getting myself killed seemed to be the biggest concern.

Fortunately, I have worked with Legs religiously since he was born. I was pretty sure the young colt wouldn't try to kill me to get to a mare. I'd been pushing him off mares since he first started jumping them.

I was much more concerned that I might make a mistake and he might get away with something that would affect future breedings or he might get loose. There were dozens of scenarios that played in my head. None of them were comforting.

But when the vet asked if I wanted to handle Legs or let them do it, I stepped right up and took the lead. What what I thinking?? Well, I can tell you that! I was thinking I couldn't afford to have the vet out every time I needed to breed a mare. I was never going to learn if I didn't just do it. I was thinking.......I was thinking.........I was........."Geez, MiKael, just get it over with!"

To be continued..........

Part 2

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Arabian horse Arabian horses horses horse dream horse maiden mare
horse breeding maiden stallion Gamaar